It’s Lemonade Day

The core principal of Lemonade Day is to provide every youth the opportunity to be an entrepreneur. Local youth and the community are invited to participate in a national lemonade stand event on May 31, 2014.

What this program will do, and has done is to teach children how to start, own and operate their own business through building and running a lemonade stand. Young entrepreneurs will learn valuable lessons for business success, which is more than selling lemonade. Through the program, children learn valuable real life skills by owning and operating their own business. They also gain the opportunity to “spend a little, save a little and share a little,” by donating a portion of their profits to a local charity of their choice. Creating a business opportunity at such a young age can inspire them to follow the path of entrepreneurship.

Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College (SMWC) along with title sponsor Indiana State University brings this program back to the Wabash Valley.

On Lemonade Day, everyone has a job – either buying or selling lemonade. Residents are encouraged to simply purchase a cup of lemonade or help a child participate in this fun and exciting opportunity to start their own business. Either way, on Lemonade Day everyone in the Wabash Valley community can positively influence the future of its youth.

Marc Evans, general manager at Frontier Communication and Terre Haute City Champion for Lemonade Day, shared why Frontier continues to support this annual event. “Entrepreneurship is a way we can help the youth create their dreams right here in Terre Haute,” explains Evans. “It is important to start educating them about entrepreneurship and the importance of community at a young age so they have the chance to find their passion.”

Launched in 2007 in Houston, Texas, Lemonade Day was inspired by lessons Michael Holthouse, an Indiana State University alum, successful entrepreneur and philanthropist, taught his young daughter and her friend when they set-up their own lemonade stand. Since then, it has grown into a nationwide program. Lemonade Day has expanded to over 40 cities with more than 200,000 participating in 2013.

Lemonade Day is a strategic 14-step process that walks youth from a dream to a business plan, while teaching them the same principles required in starting any big company. Children are armed with an Entrepreneurial Workbook to help them learn how to set goals, create a budget, find an investor, choose a site location, create an advertising plan, build a stand, perform basic accounting and give back. In addition, workshops are held in various locations in Terre Haute.

This year’s sponsors include:

Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College

Indiana State University

Baesler’s Market

Duke Energy

Frontier Communication

Garmong Construction

Ivy Tech State College

Tabco

Terre Haute Savings Bank

Terre Haute Tribune Star

WTWO

Organizers anticipate about 500 children will be involved this year. Early registration is now open online at terrehaute.lemonadeday.org. For information about sponsorships and partnerships, contact Courtney Richey at (812) 535-5186 or crichey@smwc.edu.

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